Mohamed Rizlan blasted a last-ball six to clinch a thrilling three-match Twenty20 International Series for Qatar against Kuwait at the Asian Town Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Chasing a stiff 204-run target, hosts Qatar required four runs off the final delivery and Rizlan cleared the fence with a mighty heave to wrap up a five-wicket victory.
Earlier, Mohamed Tanveer smashed 50 and skipper Tamoor Sajjad cracked 37. Useful contributions from Kamran Khan and Inam-ul-Haq prepared the launch pad for Rizlan, who scored an entertaining 38 not out.
Ilyas had a three-wicket haul, while Kashif, Morshed and Adnan shared the remaining wickets.
Kuwait, batting first, piled up a challenging 203 for five with Ravija hammering 88 and Adnan getting 80. Mohamed Awais Malik grabbed two scalps. Inam-ul-Haq and Iabal Chaudhry had one each.
Qatar and Kuwait shared the first two T20Is, played on Thursday and Friday.
The two teams played the international series, held at the initiative of the Qatar Cricket Association President Yousef Jeham al-Kuwari. He was present during the closing ceremony to hand the prizes and trophies to the two teams in presence of other QCA officials.
Team Manager Abdullah Mahmood and captain received the trophy for Kuwait. The winning trophy was received by skipper Sajjad, team manager Gul Khan Jadoon and coach Shahid Mehbood.
Al-Kuwari praised the Qatar team for their fighting spirit and winning performance. He also wished good luck to the national team for the upcoming events.
The series was organised for the ranking purpose and preparations for the upcoming five-team Asian Regional Finals Qualifiers to be held in Singapore from July 22 to 28. Besides Qatar and Kuwait, Nepal, Malaysia and Singapore are the participating teams.
The winner will advance to play in the 2019 ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier, to be organised by the UAE in October and November this year to spot the qualifiers for the ICC T20 World Cup, which will be staged by Australia in 2020.
Qatar have emerged as a strong cricketing nation in the region following the vision and guidance of QCA president al-Kuwari. With investments in reinforcing the structure form the grass-root to senior level, Qatar have been improving not only their domestic game but also their international performance.
The T20I series victory for Qatar against a tough opposition like Kuwait is a good indication of their recent rise. With the QCA planning more bilateral series in future, the national teams are expected to develop well in all three versions of the sport.
BRIEF SCORES: Kuwait 203 for 5 in 20 overs (Ravija 88, Adnan 80; Awais 2 wkts, Inam 1 wkt, Iqbal 1 wkt) lost to Qatar 206 for five in 20 overs (Mohamed Tanveer 50, Mohamed Rizlan 38 not out, Tamoor Sajjad 37; Ilyas 3 wkts, Kashif 1 wkt, Morshed 1 wkt , Adnan 1 wkt) by five wickets
Qatar Cricket Association president Yousef Jeham al-Kuwari and other officials pose with the Qatar and Kuwait teams after the hosts won the Twenty20 International series at the Asian Town Cricket Stadium on Saturday.